adoring1 Wrote:In the old testament, there exists no restrictions on the number of wives just as there were no restrictions about marriage between siblings and cousins. At the time of creation there was one man and one woman and the directive from God to go forth and multiply made it necessary to take as spouses sisters and brothers at one point and as generations grew cousins. Thus Solomon had 500 wives. God was angered with Solomon not because of his number of wives but because he married women that were of non-Jewish lineage from outside of the monotheastic tradition. The edict about one wife at a time shows up for the first time in new testament instruction. One of the clearest passages in the bibical Greek occurs in the section of the bible that gives criteria for being a deacon. It states in English and German translations that a deacon must have only one wife...in the greek it states clearly one wife at a time, in essence deacons and other church leadership were not to be married to more than one woman at the same time. Old testament tradition declared that when a woman was widowed the brother of her deceased husband had the responsibility to marry her and provide for her offspring...therefore many Jewish men were required by Mosaic law to marry second and sometimes third wives, which is another example of there being no restriction on the number of wives old testament husbands could have. I agree that the rules for remarriage are to be followed...however if adultery which is the only reason God gives for divorce has occurred by either partner...the other is free to remarry under new covenant tradition. Wives who have had adulterous spouses are not condemned to a solitary life under the new covenant. God's intent is that marriage should be entered into soberly...with maturity....for life. However men who leave their wives for other women under circumstances other than adultery do not continue to have spiritual authority over those that they have abandoned which is the intent of the bonds of marriage. This was not true in the Hebrew translations nor is this found in the Greek.

Guest Wrote:The bible states the woman is bound to her husband until death.

Even in divorce, she is bound.

A man is free is she cheated on him (or if married to unbeliever & the leave).

Those are THE only exceptions for remarriage. It is clearly stated.

The difference is we can interpret & then deal with God on Judgement day & this is what will happen, as The Word Says,
this is my belief.

I agree there are a few exceptions for remarriage, but they are strict.
REMEMBER, "it is a narrow path & few shall find it."
If we could do whatever we wanted, would not be any point in being in CHRIST (Christian). There is a rule book, just like in school, we follow it, then we are graded (by God).

adoring1 Wrote:Father...each one of us has to interpret the word for ourselves and that is as it should be...however for the record in the original language...the direct translation of the scriptures that I believe are being referred to is "one spouse at a time." For historical background...it is important to note that many men in the Jewish world unfortunately had more than one wife at a time...and had concubines as well. While different English versions translate this cluster of scriptures differently...the bibical greek does read as stated above. It is important to note that elsewhere in the bible it also states that a man is not to divorce remarry and then remarry his former spouse...however this was due to the heirarchial manner in which Jewish law passed down inheritance...I do not in any way mean any disrespect...but thought the point should be made as to what the original language reads and the Jewish law that made it so. In Jesus name...Amen!

adoring1 Wrote:Father...each one of us has to interpret the word for ourselves and that is as it should be...however for the record in the original language...the direct translation of the scriptures that I believe are being referred to is "one spouse at a time." For historical background...it is important to note that many men in the Jewish world unfortunately had more than one wife at a time...and had concubines as well. While different English versions translate this cluster of scriptures differently...the bibical greek does read as stated above. It is important to note that elsewhere in the bible it also states that a man is not to divorce remarry and then remarry his former spouse...however this was due to the heirarchial manner in which Jewish law passed down inheritance...I do not in any way mean any disrespect...but thought the point should be made as to what the original language reads and the Jewish law that made it so. In Jesus name...Amen!